A friend and I will be in Ireland from Jul1 to the 18th. We're renting a car for all parts out of Dublin. What do you all think?
July 1 - 3 Dublin (Number 31)
July 3 - 4 Waterford (friend wants to see factory though I've heard it's closed)
July 4-5 Kinsale (The Olde Bakery)
July 5-7 Killarney (Loch Leigh)
July 7-9 Dingle (Milltown House)
July 9-11 Galway (Raddison SAS)
July 11 -13 Derry (Abbey House)
July 13 - 14 Portrush (Ramada to see Giant's Causeway/Antrim Coast)
July 14-15 Belfast (Should we stay 2 nights? Jury's Inn)
July 15 - 18 Dublin (Jury's Inn Christchurch)
We're in Dublin initially to get over jet lag...get feet wet We'll really see Dublin at the end but do we need 3 nights?
Is Waterford worth a night or is there a more central place in the South to stay for 2 nights instead of Kinsale and Waterford for one night each? (Perhaps Kinsale 2 nights?)
Thanks for you advice!

Just a couple of quick comments - I'll have time for more later, and others will also find your thread . . .

1) I would definitely 100% skip Waterford. There is just not that much there (and w/ the company in bankruptcy there is even less of interest now). Waterford can be bought anywhere in the country - and it isn't even the best crystal in Ireland.

2) The way you spelled out your itinerary makes it look like you have a lot more time in places than is actually the case. If you do it in "nights" you'll see where you are trying to squeeze inn too much.

July 1 - 2 Dublin
July 3 Waterford (Bad idea IMO)
July 4 Kinsale
July 5-6 Killarney
July 7-8 Dingle
July 9-10 Galway
July 11 -12 Derry
July 13 Portrush
July 14 Belfast
July 15 -17 Dublin

Personally I would skip Waterford as janisj suggests, but I would not add the night to Kinsale. I know most people seem to be in love with the the place, but I found it crowded and just another place. I would add another night to Galway and take a day trip to the Inishmore in the Aran Islands, or better yet, put the night from Waterford on the island. There is a wonderful feeling to the place when the daytrippers leave on the last boat of the day late in the afternoon. Whichever you choose, Inishmore is wonderful especially Dun Aengus and all the little hamlets. Music in the pubs in the evening is lots of fun.

The other two islands are also lovely, but you can sense the peace without an overnight as they are less visited. I remember renting a bike on Inishoir and exploring the roads on my own. I could hear the bees in the hedgerows and an occasional bleat or moo from a distant field. I came back to the beach and sat watching the folks at play in the water and at its edge. At one point a dolphin swam up and many swam out to frolic with it. It was a magical day. (Though it was not terribly warm, I came back with a painful sunburn on my face and the back of my neck.)

Thanks for the info re: nights. I"m not especially interested in Waterford myself so I hope to convince my travel companion.

You might let them know that much, if not all Waterford is now made in Hungary.